Workers in N.C., Texas to Receive Wage, Pension Increases

Teamsters at MillerCoors breweries in Eden, N.C., and Fort Worth, Texas, have ratified new, three-year contracts. The agreements cover more than 900 employees at the two breweries and provide wage and pension increases over the three-year contracts.

“Our members overwhelmingly ratified these contracts at MillerCoors because they provide stability for their families,” said Jack Cipriani, Director of the Teamsters Brewery and Soft Drink Workers Conference and International Vice President. “For the next three years, our members at MillerCoors know that their wages and pension benefits will increase, which is saying a lot in today’s economy.” The contracts were approved Saturday.

During negotiations, which occurred simultaneously, MillerCoors management attempted to persuade the Teamster bargaining teams to accept higher healthcare co-pays. However, because of coordination between Teamster negotiators at the two breweries, there will be no health care cost increase the first year and only minor increases for the second and third years.

Since the Teamsters Union also sets retiree health care as a priority, the bargaining committees made certain that their coverage remained free. There will continue to be no premiums for retirees who have retired or who will retire through the end of the three-year contracts.

“We value all generations of our members,” Cipriani said. “So, we made sure that there were improvements for both active members at MillerCoors and the retirees who had paved the way before with their long years of service.”

The Teamsters Brewery and Soft Drink Workers Conference represents 1,200 MillerCoors workers nationwide. The third and final contract, for the MillerCoors plant in Irwindale, Calif., is currently being negotiated.

On April 18th, Teamsters Local 391 celebrated the rededication of their building.  Guest speakers, North Carolina Governor, Bev Perdue and Teamsters General President, James P. Hoffa were on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony.

The Ben L. Smith High School Pep Band played in support of the ceremony.  Following the ribbon cutting, members were treated to remarks by the Governor and General President, celebrating the past, present and future of Teamsters Local 391.

Photos from the rededication can be viewed in our photo gallery.

If anyone knows how bad the Employee Free Choice Act is needed, it’s Fred Hargrove. He’s worked for UPS Freight for more than 20 years and for most of that time he didn’t have a union. Back when UPS Freight was Overnite Transportation, the company fought demands for a union with a vengeance.

However, when UPS purchased Overnight and subsequently negotiated a card-check agreement with the Teamsters Union, all those years of struggle finally paid off.

“My brothers and sisters wanted to be in a union,” Hargove said. “Overnite did everything they could to keep us from organizing, but UPS Freight was the exact opposite. With a card-check agreement and no management standing in our way, we quickly joined the Teamsters in a matter of weeks.”

Hargrove’s remarks were shared at a press conference in Raleigh, North Carolina. Teamsters Local 391 and other labor, religious and community groups held the event to show support for the Employee Free Choice Act. The press conference was held in response to an event put on by a big business and anti-labor coalition that is fighting the pro-worker legislation.

“Let us be clear,” said Jack Cipriani, International Vice President and Local 391 President. “These big business groups that are fighting the Employee Free Choice Act don’t care about workers. All they care about is their ability to line their own pockets. We’re going to keep on sharing the truth about the legislation.”

Since joining the Teamsters, Hargrove and his brothers and sisters at UPS Freight have won a strong national contract.

“Our wages, benefits and work rules are all improved because we could finally join the union,” said Hargrove. “Now I want other workers to have the same opportunity, without having to wait 20 years to do it. The Employee Free Choice Act will provide that opportunity.”